Superheated steam generation container, superheated steam generator, and superheated steam generation method

Abstract

A superheated steam generator, capable of generating superheated steam which exceeds about 400° C. even if a litz wire is adopted as an induction heating coil, is generally described. The generator may include induction heating elements that can generate heat by electromagnetic induction and that are housed in a heat-resistant container. The generator may also include a hose that allows cooling water to pass therethrough and which is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant container. A water supply unit for the cooling water is connected to one end of the hose, and the other end of the hose is connected to a steam inlet of the heat-resistant container. An induction heating coil is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the hose, and a high-frequency power supply unit is connected to the induction heating coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A superheated steam generation container comprising:
 one or more induction heating elements which generate heat by electromagnetic induction and which are housed within a heat-resistant container; 
 a hose which allows cooling water to pass therethrough, a heat-resistant tube mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant container, wherein the hose is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant tube; and 
 an induction heating coil mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the hose such that the induction heating coil is in direct contact with the hose, wherein the induction heating coil induces current into said induction heating element to heat the cooling water within the hose such that the cooling water turns into steam, and wherein the hose is configured to introduce the steam into the heat-resistant container. 
 
     
     
       2. The superheated steam generation container according to  claim 1 , wherein the induction heating coil includes a litz wire. 
     
     
       3. The superheated steam generation container according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat-resistant container is a quartz glass container. 
     
     
       4. A superheated steam generator comprising:
 one or more induction heating elements which generate heat by electromagnetic induction and which are housed in a heat-resistant container; 
 a hose which allows cooling water to pass therethrough, a heat-resistant tube mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant container, wherein the hose is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant tube; 
 a water supply unit for the cooling water, wherein the water supply unit is connected to a first end of the hose, and wherein a second end of the hose is connected to a steam inlet of the heat-resistant container; 
 an induction heating coil mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the hose such that the induction heating coil is in direct contact with the hose, wherein the induction heating coil induces current into said induction heating element to heat the cooling water within the hose such that the cooling water turns into steam, and wherein the hose is configured to introduce the steam into the heat-resistant container; and 
 a high-frequency power supply unit connected to the induction heating coil. 
 
     
     
       5. The superheated steam generator according to  claim 4 , wherein the induction heating coil includes a litz wire. 
     
     
       6. The superheated steam generator according to  claim 5 , wherein the heat-resistant container is a quartz glass container. 
     
     
       7. A superheated steam generation method comprising:
 passing cooling water through a hose that is wound around a heat-resistant tube mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant container that houses one or more induction heating elements that generate heat by electromagnetic induction, wherein an induction heating coil is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the hose such that the induction heating coil is in direct contact with the hose; 
 applying high-frequency electric current to the induction heating coil, thereby induction-heating the one or more induction heating elements, and induction-heating the cooling water within the hose into steam; 
 introducing the steam into the heat-resistant container; and 
 heating the steam with the one or more induction heating elements to generate superheated steam. 
 
     
     
       8. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more induction heating elements include a plurality of circular fins. 
     
     
       9. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of circular fins includes a steam passage port. 
     
     
       10. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 9 , wherein a first steam passage port on a first circular fin differs in position from a second steam passage port on a second circular fin that is adjacent to the first circular fin. 
     
     
       11. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 1 , wherein the hose is maintained at a temperature of 100° Celsius or less during operation. 
     
     
       12. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 2 , wherein the litz wire includes a polyethylene coating. 
     
     
       13. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 2 , wherein the litz wire includes a polyurethane coating. 
     
     
       14. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-resistant container is non-magnetic. 
     
     
       15. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 1 , further comprising an input water storage tank housed within the heat-resistant container. 
     
     
       16. The superheated steam generation container of  claim 15 , wherein the input water storage tank is made from a magnetic material.